Just Hold Me

My little ones are sick. Giggles have been replaced with whimpers (sore throats=no fun), the running around has been usurped by lying on the couch, and the usual independence has turned into…’Mommy, hold me.”

And I am more than happy to comply with that request. Because when my babies are in pain, I’ll do whatever I can to alleviate it. They’re my children — and my instinct is to comfort them in their distress.

I had to convince my oldest to take his medicine before bedtime. I said all of the usual mom-ish things — like ‘it’s good for you’ and ‘it’ll make you feel better’ and all that, feeling frustrated because his stubborness was only preventing me from easing his pain. And when he winced through a round of coughing in the midst of the medicine battle, this was my exasperated plea: “Please let me help you. I want to help you get better.”

It occurred to me that, sometimes, this must be how God feels with us. I know that I’ve had seasons of holding onto resentment, bitterness, fear, anger…times when I was sick with sin. And even though I knew He was there, waiting to help me, I resisted Him. Maybe because I knew it would be uncomfortable. Sometimes medicine doesn’t taste good. It can be hard, even painful, to allow God to ‘doctor’ us into what we need to be.

But the whole time, He’s saying…”Please let Me help you. Only I can make you whole…” He longs to comfort us, to restore our joy and peace. He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to comfort those who mourn, to show us compassion.

So maybe you’re not feeling your best today. Maybe your heart is heavy or there’s something you’ve been holding back from Him…all you have to say is “just hold me, Father.” Surrender your life to Him, the good and the bad…He knows how to take care of you. After all, He has loved you since before you were born, enough that He sent His Son to bear the pain of your transgressions and to be wounded so that you can be healed. He loves you now, just as you are. And His love will endure forever. Rest in Him.

“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” ~Psalm 145: 13-18